Adjustable size ratchet handle pipe cutter



Jan. 5, 1965 J. H. ADAMS 3,163,932

ADJUSTABLE SIZE RATCHET HANDLE PIPE CUTTER Filed July 16, 1962 INV EN TOR.

15 John H. Adams wMwzwM on line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

United States Patent:

The present invention relates in general to an improved pipe (or tubing) cutter of portable, manually operated type.

In particular the invention is directed to a pipe cutter of that type which comprises a pipe encircling cutter unit of generally circular form when closed for use, and an initially separate lever-wrench adapted to be engaged with and then employed to rotate the cutter unit about the pipe.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a pipe encircling cutter unitof the type noted-so constructed that it may be readily set to engage pipes of different diameters, and in which-with any such settingno interference with the detachable engagement of the lever-wrench with the cutter unit is encountered.

Still another object of the invention is to provide'a cutter unit of novel construction, and one wherein the included cutter element is automatically maintained in continuing forceful engagement with the pipe as the cutter unit is rotated thereabout irrespective of the setting of the cutter unit for pipe size.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel lever-wrench for the purpose of rotating the inplace cutter unit; the latter having elements thereon for cooperative engagement by said lever-wrench.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a practical, reliable, and durable pipe cutter, and one which will be exceedingly efiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusual of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the cutter unit in open position, andwith the pipe as initially disposed in such unit.

FIG. 2 is likewise a side elevation of the cutter unit but shows it in closed position and connected about the pipe; the view also illustrating the lever-wrench as engaged with such unit. 7

FIG. 3 is a front elevation 'ofthe cutter unit, with the lever-wrench in engagement therewith as in FIG. 2; the handle portion of such lever-wrench being broken away.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3; the lever-wrench being shown in full length.

PEG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG; 2.

PEG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken Referring now more particularly to to the characters of reference marked thereon, the pipe cutter embodies, in initially separate relation, a cutter unit and a lever-wrench, indicated at 1 and 2, respectively.

The cutter unit 1, which will first be described, comprisesa' pairof substantially semi-circular jaws, indicated generally at 3, and 4-; such jaws being disposed in facedthe drawings and side plates; the side plates 'of the jaw 3 being indicated at 6, while the side plates of the jaw 4 are indicated at 7.

The jaw 3 is of somewhat lesser width than the jaw 4,

Patented Jan. 5, 1965 whereby to permit of lapping of the adjacent ends of the jaws. At one end the jaws 3 and 4 are lapped at all times and such lapped ends are connected together by a transverse pivot pin 8 which extends between the side plates 7 of jaw 3 through a sleeve 9 fixed in connection with, and extending between, the side plates 6 of jaw 3.

As so pivotally connected the jaws 3 and 4 are relatively swingable between an open position, as in FIG. 1, and a closed position, as in FIG. 2. When the jaws are in closed position the ends thereof opposite the pivot pin 8 lap and are maintainedin such closed position by a connection hereinafter described.

A cutter wheel 10 is disposed intermediate the ends of the jaw 6 and is journaled on a cross pin 11; such cutter wheel being dimensioned to project into the central opening 5 for engagement with the pipe P when the cutter The side plates 6 of the jaw 3 are secured together by means of the sleeve 9, the cross pin 11, and a cross head 14 which extends between the ends of said side plates 6 remote from the pivot pin 8.

The side plates 7 of the jaw 4 are secured together by means of the pivot pin 8, the cross pins 13, and a peripheral wall 15 connecting said side plates 7 intermediate the ends thereof.

When the cutter unit 1 is in its open position, as in FIG. 1, such unit can be readily placed about the pipe P; the jaws 3 and 4 then being relatively swung to closed position, as in FIG. 2, and wherein the end of jaw 3 The numeral 16 indicates, generally, a T-bar, which T-bar includes a shank 17 and-on one end of the.

lattera cross arm'lss The shank 17 extends, intermediate its ends, in slidable relation through a central opening 19 in the cross head 14; such opening being rectangular, and the corresponding portion of the shank 17 being of the same configuration in cross section, whereby the shank, while slidable in. the opening 19, cannot rotate therein.

A nut 2% is adjustably threaded on the shank 17 a distance beyond the back side of the cross head 14; such nut bearing against a washer 21, which in turn engages the adjacent end of a compression spring 22 surrounding the shank 17 between said washer and the back side of such cross head 14.

With the T-bar 16 so mounted, the cross arm 18 is disposed in spaced relation outwardly of the cross head14 in the direction of the corresponding end portion of the i jaw 4. At each end thereof the cross arm 18 is formed with a pawl 23 facing generally in the direction of operative rotation of the cutter unit 1, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2.

The end portion of the jaw 4 adjacent the cross arm 18 24 generally concentric to the aXis of pivot pin 8 and disposed inwardly from the adjacent peripheral portions of said side plates 7. The edges 24 are, in the present embodiment, provided by an inner thickness of the side plates 7; the latter being of double thickness as shown.

Such edges 24 are formed, in the length thereof, with spaced notches 25 defining shoulders 2&3 which face contra to the direction of rotation of the cutter unit-again as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. Corresponding notches 25 of the respective edges 24 are in transverse alinernent.

When the cutter unit 1 is in its closed operative position encircling the pipe P, the cross arm 18 spans between the side plates 7, with the pawls 23 engaged in selected ones of the transversely alined notches 25. This detachably but effectively connects the initially free end portionsof the jaws 3 and 4- against separation, whereby th cutter unit It is locked up about the pipe. P. Thereafter, the nut 20 is tightened sufficiently to place the compression spring 22 under considerable load, andwhich has the efiect of tending to cause the jaws 3 and 4 to move toward each other; such continuing pressure thereon maintaining forceful engagement of the cutter wheel 10 and backing rollers 12 with the pipe P. V

With the cutter unit 1 locked up and encircling the pipe P, with said cutter wheel 10 and backing rollers 12 in forceful engagement with said pipe, such cutter unit i is engaged and rotated by the lever-wrench 2; the structure and manner of use of such lever-wrench to hereinafter appear.

With such rotation of the cutter unit 1 about the pipe P the latter; is effectively cut through by the cutter wheel 19. Because, of the aforementioned action of the loaded compression spring 22 tending to move the jaws 3 and 4 to ward each other, and consequently maintaining forceful engagement of the cutter wheel 19 with the pipe atall times during the cutting operation, the operator need not recurringly tighten thenut 20. In other words, the ,arrangement is such that the cutter unit 1, when in operation, automatically maintains the cutter wheel it in forceful engagement with said pipe P. V

The lever-wrench 2 which is employed torotate the cutter unit 1, when closed and locked up. about the pipe '1, is of stirrup-like form, including a handleZi fitted at its forward end with longitudinally curved, transversely spaced side arms 28 connected at their forward endsfby a cross head 29. The spacing of the longitudinally. curved side arms 28 is such that the lever-wrench, at its forward end, may straddle the cutter unit, as shown in FIG. 2.

The cross head 2? is formed with a transverse pawl 39 which faces generally in the same direction as the cutter unit is rotated. Some distance back of the cross head 29 and its pawl 30 the lever wrench includes a ftransverse'rest or stop 31 which extends in rigid relation between the side arms 28.

The side'plates 6 of jaw 3 and the side plates 7 of jaw 4 are each formed, at the periphery, with a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches 32; corresponding notches of each jaw being transversely alined, and each such notch defining a shoulder 33 which faces contra to the direction of rotation of said cutter unit 1. In order to rotate such cutter unit by the lever-wrench 2, the forward portion of the latter is straddled over the cutter unit, with the pawl 30 seated in transversely alined ones of the notches 32 and in hooking engagement against the corresponding shoulders'33. With the pawl 39 so engaged, the

rest 31 bears against certain of the flats or lands 34 which exist on the side plates 6 or 7 intermediate the notches 32;

the lands 34 as engaged by the rest 31 being circumferena tially spacedsome distance from the notches 32 in which i thepawl 30 seats.

parent, the lever-wrench 2 can'be worked much in "the manner of a ratchet tool, whereby in close quarters such wrench may be nevertheless employed to impart forceful rotation to the cutter unit 1 even though the extent of throw of the handle 27 is limited.

The handle 27 is formed at its rear end with an open socket 35 adapted to matchingly engage over the nut 29, whereby the; lever-wrench 2before being engaged with the cutter unit 1 to rotate the latteris employed to tighten the nut 21 for the purpose of loading the compression spring 22.

While here shown in use on only one size of pipe, the cutter unit 1 can be employed to cut other sizes by merely engaging the pawls 23 in different ones of the transversely alined notches 25 and which alter the spacing between the cutter wheel 19 and the backing rollers 12.

' The escribed pipe cutter provides a very practical tool for the ready cutting of a pipe, even though such pipe has a close tolerance or spacing with respect to a fixed object,

the cutter unit 1, when in place on the pipe P, having limited radial projection therefrom, and the lever-wrench v 2 being capable of being applied to the inplace cutter unit I at any convenient position about the periphery thereof.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a deviceas will substantially fulfill the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired: 7

.1. A pipe cutter comprising a pair of jaws adapted to be disposed about a pipe, a pipe engaging cutter element on one jaw, a pipe engaging backing element on the other jaw, means pivoting the jaws together at one end for relative approaching movement, and means to detachably connect the jaws when closed at the other end thereof, said detachable connecting mean comprise a T-bar having a shank and a cross arm on one end thereof, across head on said other end of one jaw, the cross head having an opening therethrough, the T bar shank slidably extending intermediate its ends through the opening and with the cross arm disposed in the direction of the other jaw, a nut adjustably threaded on said shank beyond the cross head in the opposite direction, a compression spring about the shank between the cross head and nut, and means in part on the cross arm arranged to detachably secure the same to said other jaw.

2. A pipe cutter, as in claim 1, in which said last named means comprises a forwardly facing pawl on each end of thecrolss arm, and said other jaw having transversely spaced outwardlyv facing edges thereon having. transversely alined notches therein defining rearwardly facend of the ends thereof, a transverse pivot connecting the jaws at the lapped ends thereof for relative swinging movement of the jawsbetween an open position wherein gtheother ends are gapedfor pipe entry between said jaws and a closed position wherein said other ends are lapped with the jaws extending about the pipe, a transverse axis cutter wheel journaled between the said plates of one jaw intermediate it ends, circumferential-1y spaced backing rollers journaled between the side. plates of the other jaw intermediate its ends, the cutter wheel and backing rollers being disposed to engage the pipe on head extending between the side plates of one jaw at said other end thereof, the cross head having an opening therein, a shank slidably extending intermediate its ends through the opening, a nut adjustably threaded on the shank in spaced relation to the back of the cross head, a compression spring about the shank between the nut and cross'head, a cross bar on the shank beyond the cross head and in the direction of the other jaw, and pawls formed on the ends of the cross bar, there being transversely alined notches formed with the side plates of said other jaw inwardly of their peripheral edges on the inner side of said plates and in position for detachable but holding engagement by the pawls on said cross arm whereby to connect the jaws in closed position, tightening of the nut and compression of the spring causing a continuing pressure to be exerted on the jaws in a direction to maintain forceful engagement of the cutter wheel and backing rollers with said pipe.

1/02 Mitchell 30101 1/16 Spencer 30'101 1/29 Scott 30-401 12/29 McKnight et al. 30-99 12/39 Carlsen 30101 9/48 Condon 30-85 12/54 McIver 30-101 X 3/56 Petersen 30-101 5/56 'Jonasson 30101 10/60 Martin 30101 FOREIGN PATENTS 7/ 13 Great Britain. 4/02 Germany.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD V. BENHAM, MYRON C. KRUSE,

Ex min r 

1. A PIPE CUTTER COMPRISING A PAIR OF JAWS ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED ABOUT A PIPE, A PIPE ENGAGING CUTTER ELEMENT ON ONE JAW, A PIPE ENGAGING BACKING ELEMENT ON THE OTHER JAW, MEANS PIVOTING THE JAWS TOGETHER AT ONE END FOR RELATIVE APPROACHING MOVEMENT, AND MEANS TO DETACHABLY CONNECT THE JAWS WHEN CLOSED AT THE OTHER END THEREOF, SAID DETACHABLE CONNECTING MEANS COMPRISES A T-BAR HAVING A SHANK AND A CROSS ARM ON ONE END THEREOF, A CROSS HEAD ON SAID OTHER END OF ONE JAW, THE CROSS HEAD HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH, THE T-BARSHANK SLIDABLY EXTENDING INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS THROUGH THE OPENING AND WITH THE CROSS ARM DISPOSED IN THE DIRECTIN OF THE OTHER JAW, A NUT ADJUSTABLY THREADED ON SAID SHANK BEYOND THE CROSS HEAD IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, A COMPRESSION SPRING ABOUT THE SHANK BETWEEN THE CROSS HEAD AND NUT, AND MEANS IN PART ON THE CROSS ARM ARRANGED TO DETACHABLY SECURE THE SAME TO SAID OTHER JAW. 